Elevating scaffold



Nov. 27, 1962 Q PETERSON 3,065,819

ELEVATING SCAFFOLD Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR. Oscar Pezcvson Nov. 27, 1962 o. PETERSON 3,065,819

ELEVATING SCAF'FOLD Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 o a y a e5 62 7 e2.

' INVENTOR. Oscar P6 is rson Nov. 27, 1962 o. P-ETERSON 3,065,819

ELEVATING SCAFFOLD Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 27, 1962 i o, T N 3,065,819

ELEVATING SCAFFOLD Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I la 9a, E [/2 & 5/11 7 INVENTOR.

Oscar "Pezerson ,%%4' W Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oscar Pzersbh Y B Nov. 27, 1962 o. PETERSON 3,065,819

ELEVATING SCAFFOLD Filed March 9, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. Oscar Pezerson BY Nov. 27, 1962 o. PETERSON ELEVATING SCAFFOLD 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 9, 1959 "'INVENTOR.

Oscar) Pezerson BY azg O AMMM United States Patent new Patented Nov. 27, 1%62 3,065,819 ELEVATING SQAFFOLI) Oscar Peterson, Rte. 1, Mead, Wash. Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 797,943 7 Claims. (Cl. 182-63) My invention relates to an elevating scaffold. It is the purpose of my invention to provide an elevating scaffold with means to extend it from a height and width that readily passes through door openings of the size used in dwellings and ofifices to a height of more than twice that of the doors and its supports to a width sufiicient to insure stability to the scaffold even with workers thereon at the sides of the elevated scaffold. This same arrangement can be made to go higher by adding sections. When fully extended it has three decks to work from and will accommodate three to six men and equipment. It can be raised and lowered in minutes by one man and therefore saves many lost'man hours time.

It is also a purpose of my inventionto provide an elevating scaffold with a simple elevating mechanism which is light in Weight and is so positioned as to leave the work area unobstructed in all elevations of the scaffold.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide the elevating scaffold with a novel combination of wheels and supports whereby one set of four wheels can be used to carry the scaffold when it is closed to go through doors and when it is extended to enable workmen thereon to reach high walls and ceilings.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention. The drawings and description are intended to be illustrative only and various changes may be made from the exact details shown and described within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away of an elevating scaffold embodying my invention and showing the scaffold with the parts in the position they are placed for transportation through doorways;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the scaffold on a slightly larger scale than FIGURE 1, and showing the supports extended.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the scaffold on a reduced scale, showing it extended substantially to the maximum height;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line ll--11 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 14 is a-detail view of a hook connection used in the scaffold. 1

Referring now to the drawings, my invention is shown 'as embodied in an elevating scaffold wherein a base 1 supports four upright channel members 2, 3, 4 and 5 to form the base structure of the scaffold. The base 1 also supports two upright pairs of channel shaped guides indicated at 6, 7, 8 and 9. The guides 6 and 7 are located midway between the upright members 2 and 3 and the guides 8 and 9 are located midway between the upright members 4 and 5. The guides 6 and 7 are joined to each other at their upper ends to form a member 6a which is extended to a cross bar 10 that connects the upper ends of the upright members 2 and 3. The guides 8 and 9 are also joined to each other at their upper ends to form a member 8a which is extended up to a cross bar 12 that connects the upper ends of the upright members 4 and 5. The cross bars 10 and 12 are rigidly afiixed to their respective upright members and to the extended parts of the respective guides to form rigid end frameworks. The extended members 6a and 8a are rigidly connected to the ends of a member 11 which serves to tie the two end frameworks together and further as a cable anchor as will be presently explained.

The upright channel member 2 has slidably fitted therein a second upright channel member 13 of the same cross sectional shape but smaller, so as to slide readily in the member 2. The channel member 13 has portions 13a that extend through an opening in the side of the member 2 that faces toward the upright member 4. A third upright member 14 slidably fits in the member 13 and has a portion 14a that projects through an opening in the member 13 between the portions 13a. The upright channel member 3 has a channel member 15 slidably fitted therein which has portions 15a extending through an opening in the side of the member 3. A member 16 is slidably fitted in the member 15 and has a portion 16a projecting through an opening in the member 15 between the portions 15a. The upright members 4 and 5 are identical in construction to the members 2 and 3 and have channel members 17 and 19 slidably fitted therein with portions 17a and 19a respectively, projecting through openings in the sides of the members 4 and 5. A member 18 is slidably fitted in the member 17 and has a portion 18a projecting therefrom between portions 17a of the channel member 17. A member 20 is slidably fitted in the member 19 and has a portion 20a projecting therefrom between the portions 19a of the member 19.

The several telescoping parts just described provide the means by which the scaffold parts are supported on base 1. A side frame member 21 extends from the channel member 2 to the channel member 4 and is rigidly affixed to these channel members. A like side frame member 22 extends from the channel member 3 to the channel member 5 and is rigidly aifixed to these channel members. Both of the frame members 21 and 22 are open work frame members consisting of peripheral bars 21a and 22a, pairs of intermediate upright bars 21b and 22b, braces 21c and 220 and ladder rungs 21d and 22d. The upright portions of the peripheral bar 21a are rigidly afiixed to the members 2 and 4 and the upright portions of the periph-- eral bar 22a are rigidly afiixed to the members 3 and 5. A platform 23 extends from the top portion of the peripheral bar 21a to the top portion of the peripheral bar 22a and is affixed to both bars. Two inverted U-shaped end frame members 24 and 25 are affixed to the upright portions of the peripheral bars 210 and 2211 respectively to cross tie the uprights 2 and 4 to the uprights 3 and 5. The ends of the platform 23 terminate short of the end frame members 24 and 25 to permit end frame members of the scaffold units that are elevated to pass.

Just outside the side frame member 21 is a side frame member 26 which extends from the inner portion 13a of the upright channel member 13 to the inner portion 17a of the upright channel member 17 and is rigidly affixed to these channel members. A like side frame member 27 extends from the inner portion a of the upright channel member 15 to the inner portion 19a of the upright channel member 19 and is rigidly affixed thereto. The side frame members 26 and 27 are like the side frame members 21 and 22, made up of peripheral bars 26a and 27a, pairs of intermediate upright bars 26b and 27b, braces 26c and 27c and ladder rungs 26d and 27d. The upright portions of the peripheral bars 26a are rigidly affixed to the inner portions 13a and 17a. The upright portions of the peripheral bars 27a are rigidly afiixed to the inner portions 15a and 17a. A platform 28 extends over the platform 23 from the top portion of the peripheral bar 26a to the top portion of the peripheral bar 27a and is afiixed to both bars. Two inverted U-shaped end frame members 29 and 30 are aflixed to the peripheral bars 26a and 27a at the corners of these bars, as best illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 12 and 13.

The end frame member 29 has outwardly projecting portions 29a and 29b extending over the side frame members 21 and 22 respectively and rigidly affixed to the side frame members 26 and 27 respectively. The end frame member 30 also has outwardly projecting portions 30a and 30b extending over the side frame members 21 and 22 respectively and rigidly aflixed to the side frame members 26 and 27 respectively. The lower ends of the end frame member 29 have outwardly projecting tip portions 29c and 29d that pass over the bottom portions of the peripheral bars 21a and 22a respectively and are rigidly affixed to the side frame members 26 and 27 respectively. The lower ends of the end frame members 30 have outwardly projecting tip portions 300 and 30d that pass over the bottom portions of the peripheral bars 21a and 22a respectively and are rigidly afiixed to the side frame members 26 and 27 respectively. The side frame members 26 and 27, the platform 28 and the end frame mem bers 29 and 30 make up a scaffold unit that is carried by the four upright channel members 13, 15, 17 and 19 and moved upward when the members 13, 15, 17 and 19 are moved upward.

Another scaffold unit is mounted on the four upright members 14, 16, 18 and 20. The frame of this unit embodies two side frame members 31 and 32. The side frame member 31 is rigidly affixed to the portions 14a and 18a of the upright members 14 and 18 and includes a peripheral bar 31a, a pair of intermediate upright bars 31b, braces 31c and ladder rungs 31d. The side frame member 32 is rigidly alfixed to the portions 16a and a of the upright members 16 and 20 and includes a peripheral bar 32a, a pair of intermediate upright bars 32b, braces 32c and ladder rungs 32d. A platform 33 extends across the top portions of the peripheral bars 31a and 32a and is rigidly afiixed thereto. There are end frame members 34 and 35 of inverted U-shape connecting the side frame members 31 and 32 to the platform 33. The end frame member 34 has its top end rigidly aflixed to the platform 33 and has outwardly projecting portions 34a and 34b extending over the side frame members 21, 22, 26 and 27 and rigidly aflixed to the side frame members 31 and 32 respectively. The member 34 also has outwardly projecting tip portions 340 and 34d at its lower end which pass over the bottom portions of the peripheral bars 21a, 22a and 26a and 27a and are rigidly afiixed to the side frame members 31 and 32. The end frame member 35 has its top end rigidly aflixed to the platform 33 and has outwardly projecting portions 35a and 35b extending over the side frame members 21, 22, 26 and 27 and rigidly affixed to the side frame members 31 and 32 respectively. Outwardly projecting tip portions 350 and 35d at the lower ends of member 35 pass over the bottom portions of the peripheral bars 21a, 22a, 26a and 27a and are rigidly affixed to the side frame members 31 and 32.

The construction just described provides three scaffold units, one of which is fixed to the outer upright channel shaped members 2, 3, 4 and 5 and is therefore stationary.

The second scaffold unit is fixed to the channel shaped upright members 13, 15, 17 and 19 so it can be moved up and down by raising and lowering the members 13, 15, 17 and 19 in the members 2, 3, 4 and 5. The side frame members and top platform of the second scaffold unit are outside of the side frame members and platform of the fixed scaffold unit so that the second unit nests with the first unit. The third scaffold unit has its side frame members and platform outside of both the first and second scaffold 'units so that it can carry workmen on its platform and workmen on its side frame members too.

The scaffold units are raised and lowered by means of cables. The connections of these cables and the means for operating them will now be described. As shown best in FIGURE 9, the inner slidable members 14, 16, 18 and 20 are each grooved at 36 to receive a cable 37 which is affixed at 38 to the lower end of the inner slidable member. Each of the channel shaped upright members 13, 15, 17 and 19 has a cable sheave or pulley 39 mounted in the top thereof over which the cable 37 passes. Each cable 37 is affixed to the exterior of one of the upright members 2, 3, 4 and 5 as indicated at 40.

Each of the channel shaped upright members 13, 15, 17 and 19 is grooved as indicated at 41 (see FIGURE 10) to receive a cable 42 secured to the lower end of the slidable member at 42a. A sheave or pulley 43 is mounted in the top of each of the members 2, '3, 4 and 5 and the four cables 42 pass over the pulleys 43, then downward into the base 1 around pulleys 44 that are mounted in the base 1 and around pulleys 45, also mounted in the base 1. The cables 42 then pass up to a drum or mandrel 46 and are afiixed to the drum. The drum 46 has its shaft 46a journalled at one end in a block 47 that is slidable vertically in the guides 6 and 7. The other end of the drum 46 is journalled in a block 48 that is slidable vertically in the guides 8 and 9. The shaft 46a has ratchet wheels 49 and 50 fixed thereon just outside the blocks 47 and 48. A pawl shaft 51 is also journalled in the blocks 47 and 48 and has two pawls 52 and 53 thereon. The pawl 52 is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel 49 and the pawl 53 is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel 50. The shaft 51 has a hand lever 54 thereon. The drum shaft 46a has a crank 55 thereon which has a handle 56.

The drum 46 is suspended from the bar 11 by a plurality of cables 57. These cables have one end fixed to the bar 11 and the other end fixed to the drum 46 so that as the drum is turned to wind the cables 42 thereon, it also winds the cables 57 thereon and is therefore moved upward. For each rotation of the drum it is moved up or down an amount equal to its circumference and it also takes up or lets out a length of the cables 42 equal to its circumference.

The base 1 is carried by .four wheels 58, 59, 60 and 61. The wheels are mounted on arms 62, 63, 64 and 65 respectively. These arms have upright stems 62a, 63a, 64a and 65a which are journalled in sleeves 66, 67, 68 and 69 that are rigidly mounted in the base 1. Bearing plates 70, 71, 72 and 73, fixed on the arms 62,63, 64 and 65, support the base 1. The arms are bracedby braces 62b, 63b, 64b and 65b. The arms can turn freely on their stems between the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 and the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The base 1 has channels shown at 74, 75, 76 and 77 to receive the braces 62b, 63b, 64b and 65b. In order to move the arms between the two positions and secure them I provide gears 78, 79, 80 and 81 fixed on the four stems 62a, 63a, 64a and 65a. These gears are driven by gears 82, 83, 84 and 85. The gears 82 and 83 are fixed .on a shaft 86 that is mounted in bearings 87 in the base 1. The gears 84 and 85 are fixed on a like shaft 88 that is journalled in bearings '89 in the base 1. The two shafts 86 and 88 are connected by sprocket wheels 90 and 92 on the shafts, sprocket chain sections 9.1 and 93, and crossed cables 94 and 95 connecting the sprocket chain sections.

A hand lever 96 is fixed to the shaft 88 and is latched upright by moving it into a notch 97 in the top of the base 1 and in down position, moving it into a notch 98 in the top of the base 1.

The outer scaffold unit has work platforms 99 and 100 thereon. The platform 99 is removably hung from the side frame member 31 on loops 112 engaged by hooks 1.09. Two rigid support bars 101 and 102 are pivoted to the platform 99 and extend angularly inward to the side pieces 31a to which they are releasably secured by loops 112. A latch 107 is provided on the side frame member 31 to hold the platform 99 folded up. The platform 99 includes a trap door 104 which is hinged so it can be raised to permit a workman to go through it. The platform 100 is removably hung from the side frame member 32 on loops 112 also engaged by hooks 109. It is supported by bars 105 and 106 connected to the platform 100 and extending upwardly and inwardly to the side pieces 32a to which they are secured by the loops 112. A latch 107 is provided on the side frame member 32 to hold the platform 100 in raised position. The platform 100 also has a hinged trap door 108 thereon. The platforms 99 and 100 are adapted to be latched directly along their outer edges by the spring biased latches 107. Each bar 101, 102, 105 and 106 is provided with a spring-biased hook 110 adapted to engage the second loop 112 above that engaged by the hooks 109 of the respective platform 99 or 100 (see FIGURE 14). With this arrangement the platform 99 or 100 can be adjusted to form a work bench to work from at ceiling height or can be set at the same level as the top deck of the outer scaffold unit.

It is believed that the construction of my elevating scaffold will be clear from the foregoing description. In using the scaffold it is transported while closed, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. In this condition the wheels and wheel arms are brought within the outline of the base 1, the scaffold units are nested and the platforms 99 and 100 are folded up. This makes a compact enough structure, according to the preferred dimensions, to pass through most doorways. For working, the scaffold is extended. The supporting wheels and arms swing out to provide floor contacts at the ends of the scaffold and at points spaced outwardly from the side frame members far enough to avoid tipping when men stand on the platforms 99 and 100. To reach the desired elevation the hand crank 55 is turned to raise the two vertically movable scaffold units and is then locked in place by means of the pawls 52 and 53 and ratchet wheels 49 and 50. It is to be noted that, because of the cable connections between the upright members of both movable scaffold units, both scaffold units are raised whenever one is raised. The platform 33 forms a top platform on which workmen can operate. The inner platforms 28 and 23 are available, when the scaffold is raised, as supports for workmen and for tools and equipment being used by the workmen. The platforms 33, 99 and 100 can be fitted with various safety devices desired. Such devices are not shown, since they are known and form no part of the present invention.

The advantages of my elevating scaffold are believed to be evident from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A portable scaffold which can be transported through doorways and extended to provide vertically adjustable work platforms comprising a rectangular base, four wheel carried arms supporting said base and movable with respect to the base from positions beneath the base to positions extending outwardly away from the corners of the base, means to secure the arms in both positions, a plurality of scaffold units mounted on said base, said scaf- 6 fold units comprising an inner scaffold unit extending upwardly from the base and fixed thereto, and having ladder means at the sides thereof, a second scaffold unit overlying the first unit and having ladder means at the sides thereof aligned with but outside of the first ladder means, and a third scaffold unit overlying the second scaffold unit and having ladder means at the sides thereof aligned with but outside of the second ladder means, means on the base supporting said second and third scaffold units for vertical movement upwardly from the first scaffold unit, and means on the base connected with said second and third scaffold unit supporting means for raising and lowering said second and third scaffold units.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the means supporting the second and third scaffold units comprises four upright channel members affixed to the base at the corners of said first scaffold unit, a second upright channel member vertically slidable in each of the four upright channel members and aflixed to the second scaffold unit and a third upright member vertically slidable in each of the second upright channel members and affixed to the third scaffold unit.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the base has bearings therein pivotally mounting the wheel carried arms for rotatable movement on vertical axes and means on the base connects the four arms for conjoint rotative movement between their two positions.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the means for raising and lowering the second and third scaffold units comprises flexible members aflixed to the bottom of the third scaffold unit, guides at the top of the second scaffold unit over which said flexible members extend, the flexible members being affixed to the base, other flexible mem bers secured to the bottom of the second scaffold unit, guides at the top of said first scaffold unit over which said other flexible members extend, said other flexible members extending downward from their guides, and means carried by the base on which said other flexible members are wound.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein each of said scaffold units includes a top platform and said third scaffold unit has foldable work platforms on the sides thereof.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the third scaffold unit has a work platform at the top thereof overlying the other scaffold units.

7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the third scaffold unit has work platforms on opposite sides thereof, said work platforms being foldable against the said third scaffold unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,935 Fields Dec. 19, 1911 1,099,861 Raes June 9, 1914 1,332,011 Weinberg Feb. 24, 1920 1,588,295 Berman June 8, 1926 1,644,613 Royer Oct. 4, 1927 2,183,679 Hillis Dec. 19, 1939 2,423,167 Aune July 1, 1947 2,428,184 Swindler Sept. 30, 947 2,512,534 Shaw June 20, 1950 3 Hoge et a1. Aug. 16, 1955 2,728,584 Brown Dec. 27, 1955 ,65 Harlan et al Sept. 11, 1956 2,763,339 North Sept. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,007 Denmark July 16, 1934 

